The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-05
HARPER'S CUNNING.
How the vice-President of the Fidelity
Duped q Bank Examiner.

How the Vice-President of the Fidelity
Duped q Bank Examiner.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
AS the trial of E. L. Harper progresses the
testimony goes to show that he was strategic In
all his transactions. If tho court lad not ad
journed yesterday at noon the testimony that
would have been introduced in the afternoon
would have caused great sensation. That
which has been introduced far in regard to
certificates of-deposits. drafts and checks has
been proved to have been done by Harper.
show that all the papers and other
matters referred to during the past week will be
laid at Harpers door. The complainants will
also show how Harper gulled the bank exam
liner in the early pnrt of 1887, when he came here
to examine the Fidelitys cash account Testi-
mony will be introduced showing how another
bank was used to make the Fidelity appear all
right when the examiner was examining the &C.
counts of that institution. When the examiner
called at the bank he was met by Harper.
The government officer told him what he intend
ed to do.
''Why, certainly said Harper; 'Pm glad you
came. We've got so much money that we don't
know what 10 do with it. We are discounting
other banks paner. Do you want to start right
in?" continued Harper.
yes" replied the examiner
Come right over here TO the receiving tellers
desk" said Harper Before they reached that
part of the bank Harper said:
sa'sHave you met Mr. Swift. the president Of
the bankP
The examiner had not.
"Come right and I'll introduce YOU" said
Harper. and he ushered the examiner into
President Swift's private Office. The examiner
was presented to the wealthy porl. merchant A
bottle of champagne ordered, and while
they were drinking Harper slipped out. While
Swift was entertaining the examiner Harper
hurriedly went TO the paying-teller's desk and
took every cent in the drawer and dumped it
into the receiving teller's drawer Harper
turned and the examiner accom- panied him to
the receiving teller's desk and the cash was
counted. They about to proceed to the
paying-telier's desk when directors Kineon and
Chatfeld dropped in. The examiner had never
met these gentlemen, and another visit was
made to the presidents Office. the
suit WAS another bottle of wiue with
a little lunch added While the party were eat
time he took all the money with the exception
of few hundred dollars out OF the receiving tel
ler's drawer carried it to the paying teller, and
dropped il into his drawer. He returned, took
money was counted again. There was still an
amount short of what the government requires
a national bank to have on hand. Now" said
Harper, 1--WE have plenty of money in the safe
deposit department down stairs. Well 60 and
count that But before doing this let me intro
duce you TO Mr. Gahr. one Of our directors"
Another bottle of wine was in order Harper
making it pleasant for the examiner, but
at the same time he was covering up his short
age. While the examiner was drinking
senger sent down to the Queen City Nation
al Bank on Third street. with an order from
Harper for 100000 The loan granted.
and in a very short time the messenger was
Juggling the amount up Walnut street. The
safe deposit department WAS entered. the
safe opened. and the money dumped in the
vault. Harper and the examiner went down
stairs where the money in the safe counted.
The examiner said he satisfied everything
was all right He left, never knowing that the
cunning Harper had pulled the wool over his
eyes, making every thing appear to be
straight arrow, when it was as crooked as
a rams horn.
After the bank examiner left the 500 900
was returned to the Queen City.